Petzl Ecrin Roc Climbing Helmet

What more can be said about the venerable Ecrin Roc? There is a reason that this is the helmet that SAR personnel choose almost exclusively. It works well, is well designed, and will last forever, even when subjected to the rigors of daily use in the mountains. It does not protect from side and front impact as well as a polystyrene foam helmet will (the Ecrin Roc is primarily designed to protect from things falling on you, as opposed to you falling onto other things), but certainly provides a decent level of protection against all head-busting impacts. The exchangeable foam headbands are nice (I use the thick one in summer, and change to the thinner one when I anticipate wearing a beanie underneath), and the helmet adjusts nicely for a secure but comfortable fit. It also holds a headlamp securely and in a usable position. Over all, the best of the best. Buy one of these, and never need another helmet again.

Classic climbing helmet. Very adjustable, very comfortable.

Pros: Durable, semi-light, great attachment points for headlamp, very adjustable=more than one person can use it.
Cons: No foam liner. Recent research shows that helmets with a built in foam liner protect the head a little better. After a long day of use, the user has the dumbest helmet hair possible.

I own an ecrin roc and while new research points out pros of other helmets, I see no need to ruch out and buy a new helmet. This is still a great helmet and is infinatly better than nothing at all.

Solid helmet it takes a lot of abuse!
I have owned a white one and it is still going after ten years!

One issue is the adjustable head band starts putting pressure on the temples leading to head aches!

Caves, mountains, walls, SAR, even biking. This helmet does it all. If you are looking to buy one helmet, this is the one. The dual adjustments are really awesome and you can even use them with nasty cave gloves. This helmet works great with all type of headlamps.

Worked at a camp that provided the Ecrin Roc for kids ranging from 3rd grade through high school. It was the helmet of choice because it was easy enough for the kids to fit quickly, as well as reliable and safe enough to warrant its use when liability was an issue. Easy to adjust while it is on the head. The wheels are a simple but well thought out feature. Can't go wrong with it.

I use this helmet for both climbing and caving, and I have absolutely no complaints. It's easily adjusted for a perfect fit, and does a great job of protecting your head. I've owned and tried other helmets, but nothing compares to the Ecrin Roc for my needs.

I've used the Ecrin Roc since 1999 and it is still going strong. Primarily for caving, this thing takes abuse. I initially hated the choice of Red or white, as everyone looked alike. So I painted it. I've also drilled holes to mount headlamps and integrity is still strong. What is probably best is what NO photo ever shows - the INSIDE of the helmet. The suspension system is superior to all others. It is not foam, nor flimsy plastic. It is solid and adjustable. This is why it is good.

I've dragged this thing through mud, across gravel, and banged my head on the ceiling of caves countless times (it's dark in there and you are watching where you walk). I've submerged it. It always stays on tight.

It isn't the lightest, but the best.

I just ordered 2 from this site, for my caving club. Truthfully, I did it only because they were on sale and free shipping. But that speaks for BCS - where service is great and I feel they will be around a long time.

Love it! I've been wearing mine for about 10 yrs. The thing is indestructible. Adjusability is great, fit is right on..sits a little high, but it is the design, which works well. Pretty lightweight...an all around classic helmet.

This is a very nice helmet the adjustment wheels provide a quick and comfortable fit, the webbing allows great airflow. I added 3M reflective tape for search & rescue use.

I've had my Ecrin Roc for ten years probably. It's been a great helmet, lightweight, been on many, many caving expeditions. I love the character it's developed over the years and don't want to replace it, but the adjustment wheels are worn out, it won't tighten to my head any more. Does anyone know if a replacement headband with wheels can be found for ten year old Ecrin Roc? Any comments would be appreciated.

I am a member of an Industrial Emergency Response Team and a certified High Angle Rescue Instructor. Our team has been using the Petzl Ecrin Helmet for years and found it to be an excellent product. The helmet is light, strong, comfortable and easy to adjust. Well worth the money and a product that will really protect your pumpkin when it counts.
Thank you
Andy Perkonig

Just got back from climbing Thunderbolt mountain and the helmet was great. A very comfortable helmet that is very easy to adjust with the two adjustment wheels. When tempuratures dropped near the summit, the helmet easily adjusted to fit over my hat. Wore it for 14 straight hours and never thought about it -in fact I forgot to take it off when we got back to base camp. Good ventilation too. I would like to add a lightweight brim around the perimeter for sun protection.

I purchased the Ecrin Roc, primarily because of its adjustment system. I wanted a helmet that could be quickly adjusted for different head gear in winter without glove removal. It is well made, and its only down side is the extra weight from the adjustment system.

The Ecrin Rock Helmet is bombproof! It is both UIAA and CE certified. It has great ventilation, when the wind blows it cools off your head in seconds. The adjustability is perfect, you can adjust it so custom you can hang upside down without the chin strap and it will remain on your head, although you should always have the chin strap tight! Five stars for me!

Really like this helmet! Climbing in Colorado can be hot with so much sun and this cap really stays comfortable. Highly recommend this helmet.

This is a helmet that can take a severe blow and still provide excellent protection to your dome. I can say this from experience. My girlfriend was attempting her first repel and lost control. She flipped upside-down and end up smacking the back of her head on one of the climbing mounts on the wall we were using. When she reached the bottom, she said that she was shaken but that the helmet had absorbed all the impact. In a nut shell; this helmet saved my girlfriend's life.

This is the best online store I have ever used. They were faster, cheaper and easier than anything else I have used.
The helmet itself is great! Super easy to adjust when I was juggling beanies while climbing. It is great! Didn’t know I had it on most of the time.

The helmet adjustment was sweet but there was too much airspace on top. When on my head, the helmet made me feel like a cone head and my goggles didn't fit with the helmet on so I had to send it back. I'd order from here again.

I just bought another one for use in the wilderness. Just about any helmet that passes UIAA or CE can stop one small rock or a head-bang. But the lighter helmets can only take ONE hit reliably. If your not in a position to retire the helmet and break out a new one, you are in deep issues. So, if you can drive up to the crag, you can use any approved helmet successfully, but if you're in the mountains or wilderness, you want something with much greater survivability. In my opinion, that's and Ecrin.

The Ecrin Roc is a great helmet, no complaints. I recommend this helmet to anyone. I use this helmet for climbing and kayaking.

It fits pretty well. The fit could be a little more snug. To make it sit where it should be the strap has to be uncomfortably tight under the chin. I could imagine it sliding back / forth as a result of a serious hit. Maybe need to play with adjusting it a little more. So far it's saved my head from at least a few bumps but no serious falls. Hope not to test it too much.

I actually have not used my new helmet yet. I have borrowed Petzl Ecrin helmets in the past climbing some teton peaks (Grand and Moran) and doing some extended spelunking. I really loved it and had to get one. Very comfortable. Easy to adjust. Headlamp fits great. It is breathable and didn't make my head overheat. All round fantastic helmet!

I took this out to the gorge and wore it all day without a bother at all. Takes some adjustments to get the fit right and I wear a micro fleece headband... five or six hours go by no problem.

This helmet adjusts very nicely for a precise fit. I barely notice it when climbing, and it never falls back on my head, even when I am looking up for my next big move. It also is pretty light and I never get hot in it. Overall, a quality product for sure!

I've owned a couple of these helmets over the years. They are bomb proof, and will keep your nogin safe. There are ample ventilation holes on the sides, combined with a light color like white will keep your head cool. The binding system is really easy, and adjusts for different sized heads or for wearing a hat within a few seconds.

I have owned this helmet for eon's and it still works. The fit is a tad bit off but I'm sure it's because I received this as a gift and it was a size too big. The side wheel adjustments are nice to fit it over a beanie or baseball hat but also open air. I have a hard time adjusting it laterally but it still works. I am part of the local search and rescue team and I think this is the only one we use because it's the best made out there.

The Ecrin Roc is the first helmet I ever used, and it's never failed me. Not the lightest helmet out there, but I can hardly tell I'm wearing it for the most part. The fit ajustment is simple and tough, and it ventilates well too. I've used it on mid summer trad routes and some winter mountaineering and mixed climbing routes and it does the job. It's funny, I only smack my head on the rock when I'm wearing this thing. Helmet karma I guess. I highly recommend the Ecrin Roc for excellent noggin protection.

This helmet has it all! It is comfortable, easy to adjust, and has great ventilation. Some climbers have commented on it being a heavy helmet but the weight doesn't bother me at all. With the helmet on I didn't really notice the difference in weight between this and the Elios or the BD Half Dome.

This helmet has so far successfully deflected a few small falling rocks and a couple of bumps against the wall without any damage to the helmet.

I would recommend this helmet to anyone!